Swollen Hocks

[Berry and Des]

I've just bought my old boy back into work after he was out on loan and done nothing during that time, he is 17 and is actng more like a two yearsold fly bucking and rearing when ever he sees a clear gallop! As we were on our way home today my friend noticed his hocks are quite swollen, and it has made me really paranoid. He is a big sterdy belgian warmblood that did alot of jumping in his younger years, there is a little heat in both but nothing for me to worry about and he is certainly not lame! just wondering if i should be worrying about anything or if there is anything i should get him? I think they have always been swollen they are all bone and massive anyway but the seed has been planted now and i would appreciate any advice?

 

[Bertthefrog]

Depend where the heat is, and what sort of swelling it is!

If the swelling is very mobile and contains fluid, then it could be a bog spavin or thoroughpin (or a capped hock if on the point of hock) - which basically is due to a distended joint capsule. If he is not lame, then I'd keep going with lots of straight line work in walk. The swelling will go down after a while but will probably leave a fluid filled area.

If the heat is at the front, or to the side of the boney part of the hock, and the area filled is thickened and solid rather than fluid, then he may well have the starting of a bone spavin - which considering his age wouldn't be a surprise, particularly if he has come back into work after a break. This is arthritis in the bones within the hock, they tend to fuse eventually and then everything settles down again.

Basically, if he is sound I wouldn't worry unduly. Does he catch his hind toes on the ground when he trots up? That is often a sign that the horse is reluctant to flex his hock for whatever reason.

You could also try flexion tests on his hocks, but to be honest, an older horse is more likely to be uncomforatable after a flexion test and it is very easy to make even the soundest horse lame with a badly performed flexion test!

 

[Berry and Des]

It's only very slight even heat on the front, he flexes very well when he always used to be stiff but i have recently been giving him glucosamine which makes him move alot better! He is 100% sound like i said fly bucking is his favorit trick i just wanted to check thhankyou for the advice i'll have a look again tomorrow! I have just looked through all his old pictures and he has always had massive hocks, if it is swelling then the swelling is rock solid feels just like his bone not soft at all thats what made me think it is just him??? xx

 

[Bertthefrog]

Sounds like he has good strong joints to me - and there's nothing wrong with that!

Glucosamine certainly will help - I know a lot of people who swear by cider vinegar too for their old timers.

Glad he's enjoying a new lease of life - long may it continue!

 

[Berry and Des]

Thankyou, Gonna get some of that cider vinegar just cut down to one horse so i have more money to look after him in his older age and thats exactly what im going to do thankyou for your help!

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

chunky warmbloods often have bigger rounder looking joints than tb/tbx types. keep an eye on them but if not lame and enjoying his new work i wouldnt worry too much. i think if you keep feeling them you convince yourself they feel warm/heat. you could lunge him on a small circle on firm going .. that will soon show if he is lame tho it is a hard test for an older horse and whilst he probably is fine to work generally, you might not like what you see.

 

[Berry and Des]

We have been doing alot of lunging at the moment to build him up, and he has never shown anything that would worry me. I agree when you say the more you feel then the more you convince your self they are warm. Like i said ithink they have always been that size and i have looked through all our old pictures and they look like they have always been big! I will try it on harder ground see what somes up but he is 100% sound my mate just made me worry